Philadelphia-based coating company Axalta has agreed to a multiyear partnership with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to become the primary sponsor of his digital platform. The agreement encompasses Earnhardt Jr.'s home page, DaleJr.com; his company's home page, JRMracing.com; his podcast network, Dirty Mo Radio and all videos including JRM 360 (Axalta).
CHECK THE BOOKSTORE: Villanova bookstore manager Ryan Snyder said that sales "are up $50,000" since the men's basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16. Snyder: "T-shirts, hats, dog collars, hoodies, kids' clothes -- if it has a V on it, they want it." In Philadelphia, Susan Snyder noted several city landmarks on Saturday night will "be lighted in blue and white" to recognize 'Nova's Final Four appearance, including the Ben Franklin Bridge, One and Two Liberty Place, the Wells Fargo Center and the PECO Building (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/31).
CORPORATE HEIGHTS: In California, Larry Bohannan noted All Nippon Airways officials "are changing the culture" at this week's ANA Inspiration, the LPGA's first major of the year. There is a "reason ANA is sponsoring the tournament," as company officials "want more people" in the U.S. to know about their airline. But how they are "going about getting the name known through the golf tournament is by upgrading the event to levels" that Kraft Nabisco never reached as the former title sponsor. Some "might lament" that the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club or even the Kraft Nabisco Championship "had a more casual, community-based feel, and that the tournament today has a more corporate feel." But "without that corporate feel, this tournament might actually have had a limited future" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/30).
AIMING PIN HIGH: In Baltimore, Jeff Barker noted Under Amour is partnering with San Diego-based Full Swing Golf "on marketing initiatives and an interactive golf experience in Chicago." UA's Brand House in Chicago -- the company's largest retail location in the world -- "is introducing an indoor golf simulator made by Full Swing" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 3/31).
